MONTREAL — There was probably something insightful in Ronnie Yell’s response when he spoke about possibly the biggest challenge he and the B.C. Lions will face in their next CFL game Friday against the Montreal Alouettes.

It was simply a lot more revealing, however, just to see the face of the rookie Lions wide-side cornerback light up at the mere mention of his primary assignment: Chad Johnson.

Love or hate him, the 36-year-old wide-side wideout is still getting a reaction, and in a brief discussion after the Als practice Wednesday, it’s pretty clear a reaction is still something he is seeking even as he adjusts to relative obscurity north of the border.

At the same time, Johnson admits he does not want the outside world to know him more than what he has shown over his 11-year career as an NFL receiver, because to understand him, he said, would mean there is no longer a fascination as to whether he can play.

But to someone like Yell, or any other import defensive back who faces Johnson, there may not be a bigger game this year, because stopping a six-time Pro Bowler still trumps a win over the best three-down football can offer.

Edmonton Eskimos’ Fred Stamps (2) jumps to make the reception but fails to hold on as B.C. Lions’ Josh Johnson (23) defends and Ronnie Yell, left, and J.R. LaRose, right, watch.. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

“He’s getting a chance to play. So am I. Let’s get after each other,” said Yell, the 23-year-old import who’ll be matched up against Johnson. “He has my respect. If you can cover him you can cover anyone. But he’s just another athlete and human being.”

There’s more to the Alouettes offence, but not a lot more, at least based on Montreal’s opening-week 29-8 road loss to the Calgary Stampeders. There’s more to Johnson, but he admits he is quite happy to maintain a mystique and show himself only on his terms.

“Why do I want to be understood?” he said. “If you understand someone, then you lose interest. When you know what’s going to happen, if you know the next move, it’s pointless.”

The fascination about Johnson, of course, is rooted in what he had done up until he played his last NFL game three years ago. It’s about changing his name to Ochocinco and back, his appearances on Dancing with the Stars and on behalf of EA Sports.

There’s also his darker side, a divorce and domestic battery charge which was ultimately responsible for the end of his NFL career.

Chad Ochocinco talks to the media after NFL practice in Davie, Fla.

He is not a publicity stunt waiting to happen, because in a city which has provided a home from players from Ahman Green to Billy (White Shoes) Johnson over the years, Johnson is not being exploited by the Als heading into their regular season home opener.

“There’s people who think we’re doing it for publicity. Why do we need publicity?” said Als general manager Jim Popp, arguably the league’s top talent evaluator.

“The main reason we went after Chad was I knew Jamel Richardson may not be available. I’m saying to myself, who is the best receiver we can get other than the guys we already have?”

It was the same question asked by Popp’s counterpart with the Lions, Wally Buono, who said he put Johnson on his team’s negotiation list briefly during the off-season when it became known the receiver was interested in a comeback.

Johnson said he was unaware the Lions investigated whether to sign him, nor even aware of the existence of a negotiation list. He created a stir this spring when disclosing to his 3.6 million Twitter followers he wanted to play for the Lions, but his reasoning had nothing to do with any kind of connection with Travis Lulay.

“I wanted to swim in the ocean with orcas; that was my reasoning,” explained Johnson. “Orcas frequent the waters near B.C. Remember, I’m fascinated with orcas.”

And football still seems fascinated in him.

“What you learn about him is that he’s a very crafty guy,” said Popp. “He gets people to react to him; that’s why he has the people who follow him. Him sending the B.C. Lions name out there was to get them to react.”

What the Lions hope is to avoid reacting to a false move by Johnson when running a route, which still seems within his grasp even though he is playing the toughest receiver position to establish a rapport with Als quarterback Troy Smith.

But what Johnson said he is doing on the field is no different than his 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, minus the bravado, and doesn’t think that making the Als roster after being out of the game ranks as any kind of accomplishment.

“I should be able to make a team based off my resume. My skill set hasn’t gone anywhere,” Johnson said. “I just adjust to every town. I’ve done the same routine since 2001. I smoke cigars. I go to McDonald’s. I eat (at) Starbucks and I frequent jazz clubs.”

With that, he was off, anxious not to miss a ride on the yellow school bus used by the Als to shuttle their players to and from practice that would have been an unfathomable mode of transportation when he broke in with the Bengals in 2001.

No longer can Johnson be measured by the extravagance of his lifestyle. But opponents will gauge themselves by whether they can stop him.

“When I look at the schedule there’s certain games I mark. There’s (Edmonton’s) Fred Stamps. (Saskatchewan’s) Weston Dressler, before he went to the NFL. As soon as he signed there were guys already putting (Johnson) on their calendar,” said Ryan Phillips, Yell’s wide-side defensive mate, whose face also went aglow talking about Johnson.

Stopping Johnson is a potential resume item, and could shape the Lions for weeks, Phillips said. No one knows that better than the rookie who wasn’t even old enough to vote when Johnson played his first NFL game.

“If you’re not excited to play Chad Johnson I don’t know what you’re playing the game for,” Yell said.